- The scholarship is offered by FirstRand (via its international postgraduate-scholarship programme), and is intended for South African citizens to pursue postgraduate study (Master’s or PhD) at an international (outside South Africa) university of their choice. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+2firstrand.co.za+2
- It was established in honour of Laurie Dippenaar, co-founder of FirstRand — the scholarship aims to support “future leaders / destiny-changers” who will contribute positively to South Africa after completing their international studies. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
✅ Who Can Apply — Eligibility & Selection Criteria (2026)
To qualify for the scholarship, you must meet the following conditions. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+2bursaries.firstrand.co.za+2
- Must be a South African citizen. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
- Must be applying (or already accepted) for full-time postgraduate study abroad (Master’s or PhD) at a recognized international university. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
- Applicants who have already done degree-level overseas study before are not eligible (the scholarship is for first-time overseas degree study) bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
- Must show strong academic excellence, leadership, strength of character, community involvement, and potential to make a positive impact (“destiny-changer”) in their field. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+2bursaries.firstrand.co.za+2
- Preference is generally given to candidates under the age of 35. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
- After completion of studies, successful recipients are required to return to South Africa for at least 5 years — a kind of “return-service obligation.” bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
💰 What the Scholarship Covers — Funding & Support
The FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship is well funded. Elements include: Universiteit Twente+2bursaries.firstrand.co.za+2
- For a Master’s degree: up to ~ R1.5 million in funding. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
- For a PhD: up to ~ R2.0 million in funding. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
- Funding is meant to cover tuition and costs associated with international postgraduate study. The scholarship is described as full-support for the duration of study. studyinbelgium.be+1
Because the scholarship is “open discipline,” you can study almost anything (science, humanities, engineering, policy, business, arts…) as long as the university is outside South Africa and full-time. studyinbelgium.be+1
📝 How to Apply — Process & Key Dates 2026 Round)
Here’s how you apply:
| Step / Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application window | Opens usually 20 October and closes 19 February of the following year. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1 |
| University application first | You must apply first to your chosen international university before or by scholarship closing date. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1 |
| Application form & references | You’ll need to complete the online form and attach at least two reference letters — if you graduated recently, one must be academic; if not, two references acceptable. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1 |
| Submit acceptance letter when available | If you receive your acceptance after scholarship application, you must send it in as soon as possible (before ~7 April). bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1 |
| Shortlisting & interviews | FirstRand does a longlist (roughly 40–45 candidates), then interviews (in person or via Teams) — final interviews held around May if shortlisted. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1 |
| Final selection & offer | Successful candidates are notified by around June. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1 |
Note: This scholarship is strictly for international postgraduate study only — it does not fund undergraduate or honours degrees, nor postgraduate study at South African institutions. bursaries.firstrand.co.za+1
🎯 Who This Scholarship Is Best For — Ideal Candidate Profile
The FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship is ideal for you if you:
- Are a South African citizen with strong academic record.
- Plan to pursue a full-time Master’s or PhD abroad (any discipline).
- Have demonstrated leadership, community involvement, and wish to make a positive impact in your field and in South Africa.
- Are under ~ 35 years old (or thereabouts).
- Are willing to return to South Africa for at least 5 years after graduation — contributing your skills locally.
- Want full financial backing for international study, and prefer flexibility in choice of discipline/university.
This scholarship is especially valuable if you want top-tier international exposure without financial burden, but intend to bring back knowledge to South Africa.
✅ My Assessment — Is FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship Worth It — Yes, Highly
In my view, this scholarship is among the strongest postgraduate scholarships currently available for South Africans, because:
- It offers generous funding for full international postgraduate study (Master’s or PhD) — which few bursaries do.
- It is open to any discipline — giving flexibility to pursue science, humanities, policy, environment, business, etc.
- It is merit-based but also values leadership / social impact — so it supports more than just grades.
- It supports first-time overseas study only — so it helps extend education beyond local opportunities.
- It includes a “give back” clause — meaning recipients are expected to return to South Africa post-studies, which aligns with national development needs.
